Chick-fil-A protested for perceived anti-gay agenda

Popular restaurant chain Chick-fil-A is being protested over donations to a religious organization with an anti-gay rights agenda. A Pennsylvania location of Chick-fil-A provided catering to a marriage seminar put on by a conservative evangelical group that is hostile to LGBT causes. Several colleges have student groups demanding the restaurant be banned from campus for promoting discriminatory messages.

Pennsylvania Chick-fil-A causes protests

Because of the rumor that Chick-fil-A has an anti-gay agenda, the company is facing controversy, says The New York Times. It was disclosed that a Chick-fil-A location is donating sandwiches to a seminar called “The Art of Marriage: Getting to the Heart of God’s Design” by the Pennsylvania Family Institute, and the seminar is being held in February. The event got sandwiches donated from a location near Harrisburg, Penn., because the group running the event is a 503(c) non-profit organization. Operators of Chick-fil-A restaurants are encouraged to make charitable donations, so the act may not have been religiously motivated. Many college campuses are trying to get the restaurant banned from campuses, and LGBT rights groups want boycotts.

History of Christian values

There have always been values associated with Chick-fil-A, and they happen to be Christian. Sunday school teacher Truett Cathy is the founder of the chain. His policy from the founding of the restaurant was that it would be closed on Sundays and all locations follow that schedule to this day. Christian values are promoted in the charitable foundation, WinShape, which the company runs. WinShape gives scholarships to college students and runs a network of foster homes. “Premarital boot camp” is put on by the WinShape for those engaged. It also does summer camps for kids and getaways for married couples.

Company denies discriminating

The corporation of Chick-fil-A did come out with a statement that says it doesn’t support discrimination. There is nothing on the Chick-fil-A website about the controversy. However, “honor, dignity and respect” is how employees are expected to treat everyone at the restaurant, according to a video posted on Facebook by president Dan Cathy. Years ago Chick-fil-A made headlines because a Muslim wouldn’t participate in prayers and was fired, which got the company sued in 2006.